Letters

More poetry please

The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy is dedicated to social diversity, equality and inclusivity of treatment without sexual discrimination or judgmentalism of any kind, and it would be absurd to attempt to alter such fundamental aspects of personal identity as sexual orientation by counselling (Counsellors offer 'cure for homosexuality, 26 March). All that so-called "aversion therapies" have ever achieved is to make people with gay thoughts suffer extra pain. I do feel some sympathy for those who may have tried to respond positively to a client who asked: "I'm married but have unwanted gay desires - can you help me?" But the ultimate goal of any such therapy ought to be acceptance of reality.Phillip HodsonFellow, British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy

Last month a consortium of public, private and voluntary-sector partners bought into a Lincolnshire Bites Back campaign run by the Lincolnshire Echo. It is proving to be a widely available and positive response to the economic downturn. This not only underlines the unique role played by local newspapers, it also confirms Polly Toynbee's view that local stakeholders can help to secure the future of close-to-the-community media currently under threat of extinction (Comment, 24 March). Rt Rev John SaxbeeBishop of Lincoln

I was pleased to see Jonathan Glancey employing a Stephen Spender poem, The Pylons, in his piece about controversial proposals for their advance (G2, 26 March) and entertained that his interpretation of the poem was very different from mine. More poems included in contemporary debate, please.John BaileySt Albans, Hertfordshire

How many of the offspring of all those bankers with recession-proof bonuses will soon be benefiting from the Conservatives' promise to raise the inheritance tax threshold (Report, 26 March)?John SaundersOxford

Has anyone else noticed that the Quick Crossword is getting easier? Is this to make us feel better about ourselves in the current doom and gloom? It's working!Nikki SpencerLondon

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